Butch Vig Waves Mac Torrent
Roseanne Devon
Butch was born in Fairfield, MT on May 26, 1937 to Gabe (Scout) and Jo Sweet. He joined sisters Bev and Anne. The family moved to Terry, where Butch attended high school and played football. He did not stay to graduate, but instead joined the military.
Though hating water, he enlisted into the Navy to serve on the seas during the post Korean War as a welder. His most vivid memory during his service was during a treacherous storm, which had split the ships deck, compromising this maritime vessel. With most of the crew safely in the hull of the ship, Butch and a small group of men were sent to the deck, in the dark, waves splashing over the deck. They tied Butch to the frame while he welded. He did what was needed and welded the needed frame and secured the ship. After being discharged, he went to work in the oil fields.
Highlights of his life include being a 4H dad, vacations camping with his family, a trip to Australia with Norma. He often reminisced about traveling the east coast and rodeoing with his good friend, Tom Quinlan.
Though private about his spiritual affairs, he believed in God, having pastures and open sky for his church. Work ethic, gifting to others was a mission, and commitment was his bible and loyal friends were his confessor. He lived as if he knew the Creator was great and that his life was truly blessed.
Visitation will be held on Monday, January 23, 2023 at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Miles City with family receiving friends from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. A Funeral Service will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, January 24, 2023 at Grace Bible Church in Miles City. Interment with Full Military Honors will immediately follow the Funeral Service at the family lot in Custer County Cemetery. To leave condolences for the family please visit: www.stevensonandsons.com .
I am very sorry to see that Butch passed away. I would see him every now and then around town but when we did it was fun talking about my dad and other family members. I will miss him. I send hugs and prayers to his family.
We are so sorry to hear about Butch. He was a long time family friend. Butch sheared a lot of Sheep with My Dad Norman Willson and my two brothers Lee and Norm JR. when they sheared with Vic Taylors crew. I hauled several loads of cattle for Butch when I drove for Ray Jerrel Trucking. I am glad I got to visit with him one last time just a couple of weeks ago. REST IN PEACE Butch.
Jim and Annalise Willson
Butch was always interesting to visit with. He was a natural story teller with a wealth of experience of interesting happenings to draw from. I last seen him at the pharmacy and we had afew chuckles about vaccinating calves and us . We sure will miss him. Thoughts and prayers are with Gary and Larry and families.
Larry and Gary,
Your dad was a fantastic man, his love of family, work ethic, and integrity were impeccable . I was privileged to have worked with Butch at Peavey for 10 years and he was my best man back in 1980. He was a sterling example of a Montana patriarch that stood for God, family, and the cowboy way. His stories will be greatly missed and his friendship will be cherished by those that knew him.
We- somewhat shared a rare and unique space- I grew up in Dana and spent my summer in the water- riding for awhile for Joe Quigg and working with Jeff Logan & Micky and as a bonafide hanger on-ner for maybe too many years living for the art and the waves- went to building boats. houses and now Greenhouses- but your inspiration and example made a difference in mine and many other lives- Who would think that a simple thing like paddling out could change the world for us- Thanks Corky! I am now 75 and the joy of surfing still is sacrosanct in my soul and my memories! Thanks for playing your part in "Lifes Rich Pageant" well- Brother!
Although, on the North Shore of Oahu, where his life more or less had to take him, this kind of worked in his favor. His fearless hard-charging surfing in the biggest and most gnarly waves combined with his love for drinking and general rowdiness was endearing to the local Hawaiians, many of whom shared a similar approach to life.
Butch lived hard and died just as hard, in 1979, at the young age of 38. A big ceremony was held for him at Pipeline and his ashes were scattered into the lineup, the rightful place for him. One of the greatest surfers ever.
Van Artsdalen's athletic prowess was first noted in the years he attended La Jolla High School where he earned varsity letter in baseball, basketball, and football. He began surfing at the age of fourteen, and chose to continue in the sport because of its unstructured freedom when compared to the discipline of conventional professional sports. While in La Jolla, Van Artsdalen became part of a well-known surfing group at Windansea Beach. He moved to Hawaii after graduating from high school to begin his professional career.[2]
The challenging waves of Oahu's North Shore soon became Van Artsdalen's home. He was among the first to master the powerful, hollow waves at Ehukai Beach known as the Banzai Pipeline. This, along with his reputation for riding switchfoot in the large surf at Waimea Bay, earned him the nickname "Mr. Pipeline."[2]
Because of his talents, Van Artsdalen was featured in several early surf films by Dale Davis and Bruce Brown, the most notable of which was The Endless Summer. Van Artsdalen received onscreen credit in one of William Asher's "surfploitation" comedies, Muscle Beach Party, starring Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello. He was recruited by artist and talent scout Michael Dormer to American International Pictures for auditions, but a violent temper precluded a film career.
In 1964, Van Artsdalen was ranked among the world's best surfers by the Surfer Magazine Surfer Poll. A year later he was invited to join the Duke Kahanamoku Surf Team, becoming a global ambassador for wave riding and making appearances at shopping centers and promotional events.
At the NCNR, I am an instrument contact for NG-4 DCS. I primarily support experiments involving unconventional magnetism and what might be generally termed hard condensed matter physics. If you are thinking of doing a measurement on DCS, you are encouraged to contact me before proposal submission to discuss experimental details.
Recent or upcoming PhD graduates who are interested in postdoctoral research focusing on novel superconductivity, magnetism, and/or quantum phase transitions through a variety of techniques ranging from sample synthesis to neutron scattering are invited to apply for a NRC postdocdoral fellowship.
Dr. Nicholas Butch
NIST Center for Neutron Research
100 Bureau Drive
Gaithersburg, MD 20899-6102
(301) 975 - 4863
nicholas.butch [at] nist.gov (nicholas[dot]butch[at]nist[dot]gov)